Everything You Need to Think about When Choosing Clothes for Your Children

Jun 17, 2019

Shopping for children’s clothing can be an exciting adventure. In most stores, kids’ sections outspan those for adults by a mile. With so many options available, you could easily spend a small fortune in a single session.

Whether shopping for warm, fluffy pajamas, formal wear or accessories like kids choker necklaces, it’s important to think things through before making a purchase. Consider these factors when expanding a child’s wardrobe so you’ll both be happy with the end results.

1) Size

This may seem a bit too obvious, but it’s an aspect with multiple facets. Although sizing should be a universal concept, not all brands and styles follow quite the same pattern. Despite having the same size on their labels, two nearly identical pieces could vary greatly in length and width.

At the same time, children are notorious for outgrowing clothes at an alarming rate. What fits today could be far too small in as little as a couple of months.

When it comes to infants and toddlers, sizes can be particularly ambiguous. Being only a few days old doesn’t necessarily mean a baby will fit into newborn clothes. Though 4T indicates a garment should fit a four-year-old, this is a general estimate at best. Sizing charts can be helpful in a number of situations.

If possible, have your child try on clothes before buying them. This may be a time-consuming process and could even instigate an in-store battle, but it’ll be well worth it in the long run. Also, consider purchasing items slightly larger than needed so they won’t have to be taken out of the rotation quite so quickly.

2) Comfort

Comfort is crucial when it comes to children’s clothes. Size comes into play here, but the fabric is key as well. Softness, flexibility and breathability are certainly important. Though your child may not ask for these features specifically, he or she expects them in every garment.

Stiff, scratchy, overly restrictive materials are almost always out of the question no matter how adorable an outfit may be or how much attention it brings. If it’s not comfortable, it’s probably going to gather dust in the closet until your child outgrows it.

3) Durability

Children can be rough on clothes. That’s a given. Flimsy materials may not last more than a few rounds, and even sturdier options could begin to look worse for wear before long.

Give garments a good tug near their seams to see how well they bounce back. Compare materials to your own clothing and think about how well they hold up against your daily routines. If you don’t think they’ll withstand the stress, don’t buy them.

On a side note, don’t pass up an incredible deal simply because an item doesn’t feel very durable. If you stumble upon significant discounts on a clearance rack, there’s no harm in taking advantage. With the amount of money you save, you may not be losing anything by only getting a few wears out of them. At the very least, they’ll help reduce wear and tear on other outfits.

4) Price

Pricey formal wear has its place in children’s wardrobes, and there’s nothing wrong with buying a few designer outfits for special outings. That being said, devoting a great deal of money to everyday playwear isn’t really necessary. As mentioned, playtime takes its toll on clothes and children to grow quickly. Expensive clothing for children won’t recoup its cost per use in the same way adult versions do.

5) Variety

Most children have one or two outfits they love and unfailingly choose over everything else in their closets. Still, other pieces are needed to fill in the gaps between washings. Be sure to give your child a variety of options to choose from.

Provide an assortment of jeans, sweats and joggers. Add in tanks, tees, sweaters and hoodies. Mix skorts into a little girl’s selection to give her a dressy option that’s easy to play in. Toss in plenty of colors. Variety helps make the wardrobe more fun and gives children the opportunity to decide which styles and materials they prefer.

6) Washability

You’re probably well aware of how dirty a child can get. From splashing in puddles and spilling drinks to getting carried away with finger paints, any number of stains could arise. Most fabrics are machine washable, but some aren’t. This is especially true of formal wear and knitted or crocheted items.

Be sure to read the care instructions before buying. For used clothing with missing tags, assume standard fabric care guidelines apply. If an item should be dry cleaned or washed by hand only, consider where your child may be wearing it and which activities could take place there. Doing so could save a great deal of hassle and heartache in the long run.

7) Be Cautious When Buying Ahead

Buying seasonal clothes in advance can be a tempting prospect especially if they’re on sale. After all, you know those larger sizes are going to come into play. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always work out quite the way parents plan.

Those shorts you buy with next summer in mind might not fit until next winter, or they may be too small by the time warm weather arrives. Don’t be afraid to prepare for the seasons and sizes to come but try not to go overboard.

8) Kids’ Choices Matter

Children need boundaries in every aspect of life, and parents shouldn’t give in to their children’s every whim. Still, the little ones should be included in certain matters and allowed to make some decisions for themselves. Offer help and advice if needed, but letting your children choose some of their own outfits goes a long way toward building confidence.

All Things Considered

It’s easy to be taken in by cute designs, frills, sparkles and clever catchphrases when buying children’s clothes, but these aspects shouldn’t be the only deciding factors. Whether your child will wear them, how long they’ll last, cost and a wide range of other aspects should be considered as well. Keep these points in mind and enjoy the adventure.

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About Me

I'm Alicia and I enjoy working with brands and companies on product reviews, sponsored campaigns, and more. My kids absolutely love to help with the reviews done on Chit Chat Mom. I enjoy blogging about parenting, travel, entertainment, and more!